Pressure-Activated Lotion Applicator Apparatus and Method

ABSTRACT

A pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus and related method for applying lotion to a portion of a user&#39;s body, comprising: a refillable lotion reservoir; an air chamber; a flexible, barrier separating the reservoir from the air chamber; and one or more holes for passing the lotion from the reservoir to the portion of the user&#39;s body; configured such that pressure between the applicator and the portion of the user&#39;s body causes the lotion to pass out of the applicator through the holes and be applied to the portion of the user&#39;s body, and further configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out of the reservoir onto the portion of the user&#39;s body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamber, and the barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of pending provisional application U.S.61/647,029 filed May 15, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lotions, gels and medications are used by humans in a wide array ofcircumstances. However, it is sometimes difficult to uniformly applythose lotions to certain parts of the body without some assistance to doso.

Sunscreens are a good example. While it is important for sunscreenprotection to cover all portions of a person's skin to avoid burning aswell as long-term health problems such as skin cancer, it is verydifficult to ensure that the sunscreen is properly applied to theperson's back. This can be remedied if the person as a partner with themwho will apply lotion to their back for them. But for a person who doesnot have a willing partner, reaching behind the back and obtaining aneven application of lotion is very difficult. This is made even moredifficult if the person has range of motion problems, such as arthritis,bursitis, joint calcification and the like.

One ostensible solution to the problem is a product calledRoll-A-Lotion™ which can be seen, for example, athttp://www.hsn.com/products/remedy-roll-a-lotion-applicator-as-seen-on-tv/6918267,and is readily found via Google with the search term “Roll-A-Lotion.”This product contains a lotion chamber which the user fills with lotionand then seals. There are a plurality of rollers disposed on the face ofan applicator between the lotion chamber and the outside of theapplicator. The lotion chamber is attached to one end of an elongatedhandle which enables the user to roll the rollers over a portion of theuser's body that is not directly accessible to the user's hand. Therolling of the rollers causes lotion to be dispensed, because the lotionadheres inside the chamber to the rollers and is then transported to theoutside of the chamber by virtue of the rolling of the rollers. Becausethe rollers are rolled by rolling across the user's skin, the lotionthen transfers from the rollers to the user's skin.

There are serious disadvantages to the approach, however. Mostimportantly, this device does not comprise any means for ensuring auniform flow of lotion, and specifically, for making certain that thereis always a constant supply of lotion in contact with the rollers insidethe chamber as lotion is dispensed. Rather, as lotion is dispensed,there is a tendency for air gaps to form between the remaining lotion inthe chamber and the rollers, with the consequence that the user isrolling a dry set of rollers over his or her body while the remaininglotion adheres to other portions of the chamber besides the rollers. Toonly solution to this is for the user to open the chamber andredistribute the lotion so that it again contacts the rollers.

Needless to say, this is very inconvenient. At the root of this, is thefact that there is nothing to ensure that when given volume of lotionpasses out of the lotion chamber onto a portion of the user's body, asubstantially equivalent volume of air enters an air chamber keptseparate from the lotion chamber by a flexible barrier (e.g.,diaphragm), such that the barrier displaces so as to substantiallyequivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotionchamber volume to ensure the steady availability of lotion forapplication to the user's body.

It would be very desirable to have a lotion applicator which overcomesthese deficiencies and provides a reliable, uniform dispersion of lotionfrom the applicator without having to open and close the applicator toredistribute the lotion.

Similarly, while it is always possible to attach a spongy or otherabsorbent material at the end of an elongated handle, then apply thelotion to the absorbent material via dipping, squeezing pouring or thelike, then distribute the lotion to the user's body, it will be apparentthat this requires accessing the lotion source every time the lotion isto be applied. It would be desirable to have a device which carries asupply of lotion sufficient for multiple lotion applications, ratherthan one-by-one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus forapplying lotion to a portion of a user's body, comprising: a refillablelotion reservoir for containing the lotion; an air chamber; a flexible,substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating the reservoir fromthe air chamber; and one or more holes for passing the lotiontherethrough from the reservoir to the portion of the user's body;wherein: the apparatus is configured such that pressure brought to bearbetween the applicator and the portion of the user's body to which thelotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of the applicatorthrough the holes and be applied to the portion of the user's body, andthe apparatus is further configured such that when a given volume oflotion passes out of the reservoir onto the portion of the user's body,a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamber, and thebarrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the airchamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in theappended claims. The invention, however, together with further objectsand advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing(s) summarized below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a one-way check valve such as is employed in apreferred embodiment of the invention to permit lotion to be dispensedin response to pressure applied between the applicator and the user'sbody.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the operation of a check-valve anddiaphragm embodiment of the invention for releasing lotion from thelotion applicator when pressure is applied and then filling the spacevacated by the lotion with air on the opposite side of a substantiallyfluidic-impenetrable barrier (e.g., diaphragm) from the lotionreservoir.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the embodiment of FIG. 2 is filled with lotion.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the lotionapplicator is shaped like a human hand and the palm area is shaped likea heart.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the lotionapplicator is shaped like a human hand and the palm area is shaped likea flower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The purpose or objective of this apparatus is to be able to reach aperson's back and be able to apply or self-administer lotion to theperson's back. As used throughout this disclosure and in the claims,“lotion” includes any and all medications with are in lotion form, aswell as personal cosmetics for face and/or body, for which thisapparatus is also suitable. This product also may be used for otherhard-to-reach areas of the body, such as for a person who has restrictedmovement and is unable to easily apply lotion or medication to his orher feet or legs. This apparatus is usable for right- or left-handedindividuals. It is fabricated from a durable silicon, plastic or rubbermaterial which may be in the shape of a human palm or hand, or any othershape that is effective or visually appealing for this applicator. In ahuman hand shaped embodiment, each fingertip has grooves for massagingand several small holes (e.g., 6) through which lotion is emitted whenpressure is applied between the applicator and the person's body, aswill be disclosed further herein. In the hand embodiment, the palm has alarge number of holes (e.g., 50), to apply lotion when pressure isapplied. The body of the palm may have a heart or flower or any otherdesign, as desired. Again, other applicator shapes and other holepositions and configurations as may occur to someone of ordinary skillin the art are also regarded to be within the scope of this disclosureand its associated claims. The apparatus comprises materials which aresoft and life-like to the touch on a person's skin. A refillable lotionreservoir contains the lotion to be applied. The reservoir and theapplicator body are fabricated from materials that are easilywashable/rinsable, so the apparatus can stay fresh, clean and sanitizedfor every use.

Filling the apparatus with lotion is fast and easy. In the handembodiment one simply unscrews the capped wrist area, fills thereservoir with the lotion, and then screws the capped wrist areatogether again. Because it is easily cleaned, the reservoir may berefilled as often as is desired and different lotions or medications maybe used each time.

Reaching the person's back is easy. The applicator is attached to anelongated handle which allows the application to reach and be applied tothe user's upper and lower back and sides, with ease. The elongatedhandle is preferably about 12 inches, but may be as long as 30 inchesand as short as 6 inches, with any length in between. The elongatedhandle, preferably, is also expandable and retractable to permitvariable lengths and customization to the size of the person, and ispreferably fabricated from a durable plastic. If the handle isexpandable and retractable as is preferred, its length can be adjustedby an individual user to a comfortable length for the user.

The applicator may have unique designs, of which the hand is onepreferred, but not limiting, example. The apparatus may be fabricated ina variety of colors. The seal is made to be secure and substantiallyairtight so that no lotion will spill, and so that pressures aremaintained for proper operation of the device when pressure is appliedbetween the applicator and the user's body. The apparatus is alsofabricated to be lightweight for easy travel. Included is an optionalcarrying case to avoid leaks or spills.

Other points of disclosure to be noted with regard to this device fordispensing lotion onto a person's back are as follows:

The number of dispensing holes mentioned or depicted is illustrative andnon-limiting. Any other configuration and number of holes which meetsthe objective of the invention for dispensing lotion is also part ofthis disclosure.

In lieu of, or in combination with dispensing holes, the applicator mayalternatively comprise spongy materials through which the lotion passesfor application/dispensation.

It is desirable to minimize how often the device needs to be refilledwith lotion, and to allow the lotion to be properly dispensed even whenthe device is close to “empty.” There are several ways that this can beachieved using methods known in the art. For example not limitation, thedevice may include a sealed “diaphragm” which contains the lotion on oneside and air or some other fluid on the other side. As lotion isdispensed, the diaphragm expands/repositions to move the lotion towardthe holes/openings so that the lotion is always ready to be dispenseduntil the device is virtually empty. Other related mechanisms includepumps/plungers/primers to prime the device so that the lotion is readyto dispense at all times except when the device is substantially empty.There are an array of priming devices and methods known in the art thatwould be suitable for this purpose, all of which are taken to be withinthe scope of the present disclosure. These mechanisms would essentiallymake sure that the lotion can be released through the dispensingholes/openings, counteracting the otherwise natural tendency of thelotion to gravitate or pool toward a position with the lowest potentialenergy that may not be near the holes/openings.

Any type of lotion including medication in lotion form can be dispensedusing this device, and it is an ideal device to allow beachgoers toapply lotion to their own backs in the event they do not have a partneravailable to do this for them.

This apparatus omits any type of rollers to dispense the lotion such asthose employed by the “Roll-A-Lotion” device disclosed earlier, in favorof operating on pressure principles wherein when a given volume oflotion passes out of a lotion reservoir onto a portion of the user'sbody, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamberand the barrier displaces to as to substantially equivalently increasethe air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

As opposed to squeezable tubes which diminish in size as the lotion isdispensed, the applicator maintains a constant overall size, because thediaphragm is hidden within the dispenser and is squeezed so as todiminish the size of the reservoir by virtue of the vacuum which iscreated when a given volume of lotion passes out of the reservoir ontothe user's body. As a result, and in contrast to ordinary squeezabletubes, the user never actually squeezes any tube. Rather, it is the actitself of applying lotion which naturally compresses the diaphragm anddecreases the size of the reservoir so that a reliable flow of lotiononto the user's body can always be achieved until the reservoir runs outof lotion and needs to be refilled.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the invention,making use of a series configuration of check valves to emit lotion whenthe applicator is pressed against the user's body and to then backfillthe space of the emitted lotion with air on the opposite side of adiaphragm or similar stretchable material barrier. Specifically, thisembodiment makes use of check valves 11 which permit air or fluid flowin one direction only. The downward-oriented arrow on the left of FIG. 1shows the direction in which air or lotion is permitted to flow. Theupward oriented arrow with an overlaid “x” shows the direction in whichair or lotion is not permitted to flow, i.e., is barred from flowing.For compactness in FIG. 2, this check valve is schematically representedby the check valve symbol 11 to the right of the equal sign in FIG. 1,with the permitted directionality of flow as indicted by thedownward-pointing cone. This borrows from the symbol for a diode that isoften used in electrical diagrams for devices that enforce a flow ofcurrent on one direction only.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates these check valves 11 configured suchthat the application of pressure between bottom of the applicator 2 andthe user's body causes lotion to pass one way through the check valves11 and be released onto the user's body. Specifically, shown in FIG. 2is a bottom surface 12 comprising one or more fluidic check valves 11thereon which permit fluid (here, lotion) to only pass downward, neverupward. Bottom surface 12 has two positions: a default “memory” positionlabeled by in solid line by “A” and a compressed “pressured” positionlabeled by in dash-dot line by “B.” Because the fluidic check valves 11are disposed upon bottom surface 12, these fluidic check valves 11 alsoassume these two positions “A” and “B” at the same time as and inharmony with the movement of bottom surface 12. Bottom surface 12comprises a material which toggles between position “A” and position “B”such that when no pressure is applied bottom surface 12 resides in“default” position “A” but when pressure is applied it bends intoposition “B.” Then, when the pressure is released, it snaps back intothe default position “A.”

Applicator 2 also comprises a top surface 18 comprising one or more aircheck valves 11 thereon (only one is illustrated). Between top surface18 and bottom surface 12 there is also a flexible, substantiallyfluidic-impenetrable barrier 13 in the nature of a flexible diaphragmbetween a lotion reservoir 14 defined beneath the diaphragm 13 and anair chamber 15 defined above the diaphragm 13. The diaphragm 13 flexesupward and downward, see the bi-directional arrow 16, depending on howmuch lotion is contained in lotion reservoir 14. When lotion reservoir14 is filled with lotion, diaphragm 13 flexes upward, and as lotionreservoir 14 empties over time due to use of the lotion, diaphragm 13flexes downward, as will be further elaborated momentarily.

While there are various ways to fill lotion reservoir 14 with lotionwhich will be apparent to someone of ordinary skill in the pertinentarts, one simple way to fill reservoir 14 is to unscrew top surface 18together with diaphragm 13, from the bottom surface 12, viascrew-threads (not shown) situated in the vicinity of top and bottomportion joinder line 17. Then, one inverts the top surface 18/diaphragm13 portion as shown in FIG. 3, and pours lotion 3 from a lotioncontainer 31 or other suitable vessel into lotion reservoir 14. Finally,one sealably reattaches the bottom surface 12 portion with the topsurface 18/diaphragm 13 portion along joinder line 17 via the screwthreads, and once all joints are resealed, the applicator is ready touse.

The sealing of applicator 2, which can be achieved by a variety ofmethods well-known in the art, is important for two reasons. First, itis desirable not to have the lotion leak. Second, because the operationof the invention in the preferred embodiment relies upon the pressureapplied between said applicator and the portion of the user's body towhich the lotion is to be applied, a good pressure seal is required forproper operation.

Returning now to FIG. 2, the operative principle by which the lotion isapplied is as follows: when pressure is applied between bottom surface12 and the user's body, the bottom surface 12 together with the fluidiccheck valves 11 is pressed upwards from position “A” to position “B.” Ifthe lotion reservoir 14 is filled, then because the air check valves 11on top surface 18 will not permit air to flow upwards, this pressurewill force some lotion to flow through the fluidic check valves 11 onbottom surface 12 and onto the user's body, because the fluidic checkvalves 11 which operate in the downward direction on bottom surface 12provide the only means to relieve the pressure. Then, when the pressureis released, bottom surface 12 will snap back from position “B” todefault position “A.” Now the check valve series work oppositely.Because the fluidic check valves 11 on bottom surface 12 do not permitair or fluid to enter though bottom surface 12 in an upward direction,the only relief for the vacuum that is created when bottom surface 12snaps back to position “A” will be via air check valves 11 on topsurface 18. This will cause air to be introduced into air chamber 15 tocompensate for the volume of lotion of medicine that exited during theapplication of pressure.

As opposed to ordinary tubes which one squeezes to emit a lotion, thediaphragm 13 essentially analogizes to a “tube,” but the principle ofoperation is very different. Here, it is the release of pressure betweenbottom surface 12 and the user's body which creates a vacuum to draw airthrough the air check valves 11 and thus draw down the diaphragm, asopposed to squeezing of a tube. That is, whereas an ordinary tubedispenser operates by applying pressure to the outside body of the tubeto press out material through the tube's nozzle, here the applicator, ifanalogized to a tube, operates by applying a vacuum to the tube's nozzleto compress the outside body of the tube, analogized to the diaphragm.The overall volume of applicator 2 remains unchanged throughout/

The application of pressure and then its release, may be repeatediteratively two or more times to apply additional lotion. Immediatelyafter the applicator 2 is filled with lotion or medicine, in order toremove most air from lotion reservoir 14, the system may be primed byinverting the applicator so that bottom surface 12 faces up (againstgravity), permitting air to gravitate toward bottom surface 12, and thenpressing and releasing bottom surface 12 a few times to pass out the airfrom the from lotion reservoir 14.

It is noted that there may optionally be a spongy or felt or similarsoft material (not shown) disposed beneath the fluidic check valves 11and bottom surface 12 so as to better disperse the lotion or medicineand to provide a softer sensation against the user's skin.

FIGS. 1 through 3 are illustrative of the principles by which lotion isdispensed by the applicator 2 based on pressure applied between theapplicator and the user's body. It will be appreciated that similarmethods which employ pumps/plungers/primers and the like which are knownin the art can also be applied as well to facilitate the dispensing oflotion using applicant's invention. The circular shape used for theapplicator in FIGS. 2 and 3 is simply for illustration; as noted above,shapes such as a hand, and others that may be of interest, are alsoregarded within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims.Give the operational principles disclosed here, including the use ofcheck valves in series to first release lotion when pressure is appliedand then draw in air on the other side of a membrane once pressure isreleased, a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to applythese principles to design applicator 2 in any shape or with anyappearance that is desired, including the hand configuration of FIGS. 4and 5.

For applying lotion to the user's back, the applicator 2 is attached toan elongated handle 41, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The handle maycomprise a plunger/pump 42, so in an alternative embodiment, the lotionmay be emitted using the pressure applied by the plunger/pump 42, withair pressure generated by the plunger or pump used to press out thelotion through the bottom surface 12. In such embodiments of theinvention, the check valves 11 of FIGS. 1 through 3 together with the“memory” material for the bottom surface to toggle between positions “A”and “B” and snap/return into default position “A” are no longer neededas the pumping or plugging action serves to force out the lotion throughthe bottom surface 12 at the same time that air is introduce to replacethe lost volume of lotion with air. In all cases, however, the principleof operation involves the use of pressure to release the lotion, asopposed to rollers or dipping of sponges and the like.

The diaphragm 13 continues to be utilized in all embodiments, however,in order to provide a fluid-impenetrable barrier between the chamber 15and the lotion reservoir 14. Finally, the handle 41 may also screw andunscrew from the applicator 2. In some alternative preferredembodiments, in order to fill the applicator 2, the handle is unscrewedand the lotion 3 may be poured into the lotion reservoir 14. Thediaphragm 13 is suitably situated to provide a barrier between the airand the lotion, using devices and methods known in the art for thispurpose. Thereafter, the handle 41 is screwed back onto applicator 2,and the apparatus is ready for use.

FIGS. 4 and 5 both illustrate hand-shaped embodiments. In FIG. 4 thepalm has a heart-shaped area for the holes 44 through which the lotionis passed. In FIG. 5 the palm has a flower-shaped area for the holes 44through which the lotion is passed. Cross referencing to FIG. 1, each ofthe fluidic check valves 11 may have multiple such holes 44 placedthereover, that is, there may be a one-to-many correspondence betweenthe fluidic check valves 11 and the lotion-passage holes 44. In thisconfiguration, the holes spread the lotion over a wider area than mightotherwise be achieved by the check valves alone. As also noted earlier,permeable spongy or felt-like or similar material may also be employedfor the surface which directly contacts the user's skin.

It is important to keep in mind that this applicator 2 may be used as ageneral applicator for lotions, with or without the handle, in a waythat avoids the user ever having to place the lotion on their hands (andthereafter have to clean the lotion from their hands). For example, whena beachgoer applies sunscreen, even to easily-accessible parts of thebody such as the chest or belly, the typical practice is to pour thelotion into the user's hands, and then use the hands to spread thelotion. Here, once the lotion resides inside applicator, the user simplypresses the applicator against the user's body which causes the lotionto pass through the holes and then be applied to the user's body. Thereneed not be any contact whatsoever, between the user's hands and thelotion itself.

The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the art at thetime of this disclosure, including but not limited to the prior artdisclosed with this application, is understood to be part and parcel ofthis disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by reference herein, evenif in the interest of economy express statements about the specificknowledge understood to be possessed by someone of ordinary skill areomitted from this disclosure. While reference may be made in thisdisclosure to the invention comprising a combination of a plurality ofelements, it is also understood that this invention is regarded tocomprise combinations which omit or exclude one or more of suchelements, even if this omission or exclusion of an element or elementsis not expressly stated herein, unless it is expressly stated hereinthat an element is essential to applicant's combination and cannot beomitted. It is further understood that the related prior art may includeelements from which this invention may be distinguished by negativeclaim limitations, even without any express statement of such negativelimitations herein. It is to be understood, between the positivestatements of applicant's invention expressly stated herein, and theprior art and knowledge of the prior art by those of ordinary skillwhich is incorporated herein even if not expressly reproduced here forreasons of economy, that any and all such negative claim limitationssupported by the prior art are also considered to be within the scope ofthis disclosure and its associated claims, even absent any expressstatement herein about any particular negative claim limitations.

Finally, while only certain preferred features of the invention havebeen illustrated and described, many modifications, changes andsubstitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore,to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus forapplying lotion to a portion of a user's body, comprising: a refillablelotion reservoir for containing the lotion; an air chamber; a flexible,substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating said reservoirfrom said air chamber; and one or more holes for passing the lotiontherethrough from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body;wherein: said apparatus is configured such that pressure brought to bearbetween said applicator and said portion of the user's body to which thelotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of saidapplicator through said holes and be applied to said portion of theuser's body, and said apparatus is further configured such that when agiven volume of lotion passes out of said reservoir onto said portion ofthe user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters saidair chamber, and said barrier displaces so as to substantiallyequivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotionreservoir volume.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: atleast one one-way air chamber check valve for permitting air to entersaid air chamber but barring air from leaving said air chamber; and atleast one one-way lotion reservoir check valve for permitting the lotionto exit said lotion reservoir but barring lotion or air from enteringsaid lotion reservoir; wherein: when said pressure brought to bear andis then released between said applicator and said portion of the user'sbody, said lotion will pass in one direction only out of said reservoirand air will pass in one direction only into said air chamber tosubstantially equivalently compensate for the volume of said lotion thathas exited from said reservoir.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising an elongated handle of at least six inches in length withsaid applicator attached to a first end thereof, for permitting a usergrasping a second end of said handle with the user's hand to bring saidapplicator onto contact with said user's body portion while said user'sbody portion is separated from said hand substantially by said handlelength.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an elongatedhandle of at least six inches in length with said applicator attached toa first end thereof, for permitting a user grasping a second end of saidhandle with the user's hand to bring said applicator onto contact withsaid user's body portion while said user's body portion is separatedfrom said hand substantially by said handle length.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferredfrom said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotionadhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across saidportion of the user's body.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, omitting anyrollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir tosaid portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollerswhile said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.7. The apparatus of claim 3, omitting any rollers for causing saidlotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of theuser's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while saidapplicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device selected from thegroup consisting of: a pump; a primer; and a plunger; for causing saidsubstantially equivalent volume of air to enter said air chamber.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, fabricated in the shape of a human hand.
 10. Amethod for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body using apressure-activated lotion applicator, comprising: containing lotion in arefillable lotion reservoir of said applicator; providing an air chamberof said applicator; providing a flexible, substantiallyfluidic-impenetrable barrier of said applicator separating saidreservoir from said air chamber; and passing the lotion through one ormore holes for from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body;wherein: pressure brought to bear between said applicator and saidportion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, causesthe lotion to pass out of said applicator through said holes and beapplied to said portion of the user's body, and when a given volume oflotion passes out of said reservoir onto said portion of the user'sbody, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters said air chamberand said barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increasethe air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: permitting air to enter said airchamber but barring air from leaving said air chamber, using at leastone one-way air chamber check valve; and permitting the lotion to exitsaid lotion reservoir but barring lotion or air from entering saidlotion reservoir, using at least one one-way lotion reservoir checkvalve; thereby: passing said lotion in one direction only out of saidreservoir and passing air in one direction only into said air chamber tosubstantially equivalently compensate for the volume of said lotion thathas exited from said reservoir, when said pressure brought to bear andis then released between said applicator and said portion of the user'sbody.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising a user graspingwith the user's hand, a second end of an elongated handle of at leastsix inches in length with said applicator attached to a first endthereof, to bring said applicator onto contact with said user's bodyportion while said user's body portion is separated from said handsubstantially by said handle length.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising a user grasping with the user's hand, a second end of anelongated handle of at least six inches in length with said applicatorattached to a first end thereof, to bring said applicator onto contactwith said user's body portion while said user's body portion isseparated from said hand substantially by said handle length.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, said applicator omitting any rollers for causingsaid lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of theuser's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while saidapplicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, said applicator omitting any rollers for causingsaid lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of theuser's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while saidapplicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.
 16. Themethod of claim 12, said applicator omitting any rollers for causingsaid lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of theuser's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while saidapplicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising causing said substantiallyequivalent volume of air to enter said air chamber, using a deviceselected from the group consisting of: a pump; a primer; and a plunger.18. The method of claim 10, further comprising said applicatorfabricated in the shape of a human hand.
 19. The method of claim 10,wherein the user applies the lotion to said portion of the user's bodywithout the user's hands coming into contact with the lotion.
 20. Apressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus for applying lotion to aportion of a user's body, configured such that pressure brought to bearbetween said applicator and said portion of the user's body to which thelotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of a refillablelotion reservoir for containing the lotion through holes of saidapplicator and be applied to said portion of the user's body, andfurther configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out ofsaid applicator onto said portion of the user's body, a substantiallyequivalent volume of air enters an air chamber, and a flexible,substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating said reservoirfrom said air chamber displaces so as to substantially equivalentlyincrease the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoirvolume.